MPCB to slap legal notice to PCMC over Wakad pumping station’s unrepaired state
Akash Dhanurkar
A city based student body, Rayat Vidyarthi Parishad, has found dereliction in the city based pumping station at Wakad, as a result of its constant eyeing on the sewage water discharge in the river from the plant through bypass line. The student body had protested about the similar negligence by the STP in Pimpale Nilakh in the past.
After the student body reached out to Pune Pulse, it was found that the sewage water that is received at the plant is directly released into the river without treating the water; thus, causing pollution that is being noticed by the corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board both, but neither of them are ready to take a stock of the situation. The sewage water received at Wakad pumping station, which holds the capacity of treating Five million litres of sewage per day, as built in 2006 – keeping in mind the population then. The capacity of the plant should be increased, as the population in the area has shown a gradual growth. However, water received at Wakad pumping station is sent to the STP plant at Pimpale Nilakh for treating the water.
But, finding a loophole in the process, the students have pointed out the bypass line through which the corporation is releasing the water in the river without treating it for sewage. This lax by the corporation is proving to be dangerous for the lives of citizens and most importantly, our ecosystem.
Upon escalating the situation to Commissioner, Shravan Hardikar, he said, “We have found no such bypass line through which sewage water can be released into the river. However, an enquiry is underway. We may look for the report from MPCB.”
PCMC Commissioner has denied any such bypass line present, sounding contradictory to the video evidences that clearly display the bypass line flowing sewage water straight into the river.
Raviraj Kale, one of the founder students of the organization, said, “The present commissioner is a big time liar. He can go to any extent to save his officials’ headless work. To one’s surprise, there is no adequate staff to take care of the Wakad based STP plant. I wonder, how can the Commissioner act so irresponsible?”
Meanwhile, when Pune Pulse tried to escalate the scenario to MPCB official, Kiran Hasabnis, we found out that MPCB has prepared to send a legal notice to PCMC over disrepair state of the pumping station, which has led to the sewage water flowing straight into the river.
Kiran Hasabnis said, “We went on field and verified the complaints by the student body. When we checked, the water wasn’t flowing from the bypass. However, we have made a report that displays negligence by PCMC in handling the pumping station. We have prepared an official notice to PCMC over the inadequacies at the station.”
According to the reports, two out of the three drainages are damaged, while one drainage is leaking the sewage into the river; leaving all the three drainages needing repair.
